Karol A. Ondick, BSEE ’55
Karol "Karl" A. Ondick, BSEE '55, retired as Vice President of the Research and Engineering Center at Systems Research Laboratories, Inc., in 1996 after a 36-year electrical engineering career. Karl grew up in Lorain, Ohio and graduated from Ohio University in 1955. After graduation, Karl had a two-year assignment in the U. S. Air Force at the National Security Agency to provide engineering support of their large-scale, high-speed, digital computers.
In 1957, Karl joined Systems Research Laboratories (SRL), the fledging company begun by Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ. Karl has been responsible for numerous projects for SRL and its subsidiaries. Prior positions included director of the company's Engineering Services Group, General Manager of the Autometrix Division, Vice President of the Waste Treatment Center for Systems Technology Corporation, and Manager of SRL's Engineering Services Division. He has also been involved in the design and development of experimental laboratory apparatus used in physiological research. Karl specialized in the design and development of special and general purpose data acquisition and processing systems used in military test and evaluation applications. He has managed projects for various computer and laboratory instrumentation projects for the U.S. Air Force, the Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories and Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory and Aeronautical Systems Division.
About his career at SRL, Karl said, "Fritz and Dolores Russ gave us the freedom to make business decisions. They ran the business and grew the business in a "family" atmosphere. I was able to participate in the company's growth and help build its reputation as an outstanding research and development company."
In 1998 he was inducted into the Fast Pitch Hall of Fame for the Dayton Amateur Softball Commission. He is a member of the Dayton Engineers Club, the Association of Old Crows - Kittyhawk Chapter, SAFE Association, and the Aerospace Medical Association.
While a student at Ohio University, Karl was involved in Phi Kappa Theta fraternity and Air Force ROTC. He currently serves as a member of the College's Board of Visitors and is a member of the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees. Karl and his wife, Jo, also sponsor the Karol and Jo Ondick-Manasseh Cutler Scholars Award. They are the parents of one son, Colin.